Satisfied with steps taken by Pakistan: WHO officials

WHO has been quite satisfied with the initial steps taken by the Pakistan government to stop wild poliovirus from spreading outside its borders, its polio chief Elias Durry said.

Durry, who is currently in Britain, said Thursday that he knew Pakistan was doing a lot to prevent the export of polio, Dawn online reported Friday.

"It is very difficult to say that we have approved Pakistan's request, but I believe that 15 days is not a long time. But Pakistan should continue to take steps to ensure that the international community is not affected by the poliovirus," he was quoted as saying.

"I've learned that polio vaccination is now underway in the polyclinic in the federal capital, which is a positive step," WHO's Pakistan Country Director Nima Saeed Abid said.

"WHO is committed to facilitating the government of Pakistan and will continue supporting all the steps taken to implement WHO recommendations to protect the world from polio," he added.

A WHO report said the polio virus was being exported from three countries -- Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria.

The organisation declared it mandatory for people from these countries to receive the polio vaccine before they are allowed to go abroad.